[2] He came to Canada in 1889 on invitation, settling in Montreal where he established a studio and painted portraits of many noted and well-to-do Canadians.

By 1900 he was painting large scenes of the Rockies for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

It was probably Van Horne along with other wealthy Montrealers who vacationed annually at St. Andrews, N.B., who persuaded Russell to locate a summer home and studio there.

[2] In 1926 in Montreal he held his first solo show at the Watson Art Gallery.

His work is included in the following collections: National Gallery of Canada; the Glenbow-Alberta Institute; the Art Gallery of Ontario, and in many other public and private collections, including the Canadian Club, New York.